How to Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery

Tammy asked: Help! I dumped a whole bottle of nail polish (brown colored) on my mauve recliner. Can I save my chair? It was my mom’s and she has passed, so it means so much to me.

Nail polish spills on upholstery can be an accident that seems impossible to remove. Whether you’ve dumped the entire bottle or just brushed your freshly polished nails against the fabric, the polish can be quickly removed following the steps below.

Non acetone nail polish remover is sometimes less harsh than those with acetone.

Avoid using bleach as it will discolor the upholstery as it removes the color from the polish. Be aware that hydrogen peroxide can also have a bleaching effect on some fabrics.

Keeping the stain wet as you are working will help it come out faster than if it dries.

It is often easier to remove polish stains from lighter fabrics because there is less risk of damaging the coloring of the fabric with the cleaning products. Use extra caution with dark colored upholstery to ensure that the coloring is not ruined.